Photo by Hasmik Ghazaryan Olson on Unsplash
In the previous message, Deliverance from Darkness -Faith in Dire Situations Pt. 3, we learn how Joshua leads an army to defeat Israel’s enemies, serves as Moses’ assistant, is one of the leaders that spies on the land in Canaan, and is appointed to be the next leader of the Israelites after Moses dies to lead GOD’s people into the promised land.
- Noah -man of righteousness and endurance
- Abraham -man of extreme faith and obedience
- Joseph -man of diligence and service
- Moses -man of humbleness and patience
- Joshua -man of dedication and leadership
- Deborah -woman of wisdom and judgement
- Gideon -man of valor
- Ruth -woman of faithfulness
- David -man after GOD’s own heart
- Elijah -man of boldness
- Nehemiah -man of restoration
- Esther -woman of courage
- Job -man of righteousness and perseverance
- Jeremiah -man of weeping and sorrows
- Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego -men of integrity
- Daniel -man of prayer and devotion
- Jonah -man of recommitment
- Mary -woman of favor
- Peter -man of outspoken truth
- Paul -man of transformation and conviction
Let me encourage you if you’re facing a difficulty, obstacle, trial, or tribulation. GOD is using it for your good and HIS purposes…
Isaiah 33:2
O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for YOU. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.
Romans 8:28-39
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
More Than Conquerors
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let’s take a peak at a hero of the faith who leads GOD’s people as a prophetess, a leader, a judge, a co-commander who went with the Israelite army, and self proclaimed “Mother of Israel.”
Deborah
The meaning of Deborah (Devorah or D’Vorah in Hebrew) is “bee.”
Each of us as Christ followers can be like a bee building the "hive" or GOD's Kingdom. We can be like the bee making "honey" or using our words to build one another up that nourishes and sustains. We can help give structure and order as well as unity working together within the "colony" or church with each of us doing our part with the gifts GOD has given for us to utilize that benefits the whole.
The etymology of Deborah is from the verb (dabar), to pronounce or formalize. As a judge, she did pronounce or declare things officially and she did formalize or give legal status between 2 parties or individuals.
Psalm 19:8-11
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
We are able to receive the judgments of the LORD as we read the Word of GOD. JESUS has been given authority to judge as the SON of Man and HE is the Word made flesh.
John 5:19-30
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
As we spend time with the LORD in HIS Word, we can learn what is right and good and pleasing to HIM. We can also be warned in order to walk in righteousness and uprightness. We can be revealed to any sin by the Light of HIS Word that we need to confess and repent of.
Ephesians 5:1-20
5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
By spending time in the Word with the LORD, we are able to judge ourselves by what we’re reading, confess our sins, and repent. By doing so consistently, GOD would not have to deal with us harshly in order to turn our mind, heart, soul, and spirit to HIM again.
1 Corinthians 11:31
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
We must examine ourselves to be sure that we have faith in JESUS.
2 Corinthians 13:5
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
If we are far from the LORD, we must come back to HIM in faith to be renewed in strength, renewed in our mind, recommitted in our heart, restored in our soul, and replenished in our spirit…
Lamentations 3:40
Let us examine and probe our ways,
And let us return to the Lord.
We should have a holy fear, which is an awe of GOD, knowing HE has forgiven us our sins through HIS SON’s death, burial, and resurrection. Because of this, we should be careful not to judge others or we too may be judged.
Matthew 7:1
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Since we will be judged when the LORD comes, we should make every effort to obey the commands to love GOD with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love others as ourselves…
1 Corinthians 4:5
5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
So then, if we are motivated by love, we will live in such a way that reflects this in our daily lives that will result in good behaviors and actions toward GOD, ourselves, and others…
2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
We first learn about Deborah in Judges 4:4-5. She is a prophetess and a leader in Israel. She is also a judge. She is the 4th judge to rule in Israel and the only woman so designated. As a prophetess, she received the Word of GOD to speak into the Israelites lives. As a judge, she decided cases brought to her by them. The only other biblical character mentioned other than JESUS to hold the office of both prophet and judge simultaneously is Samuel.
Judges 4:4-5
4 Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided.
During this time, Jabin who is king of Canaan reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commander of his army, had been cruelly oppressing Israel for the last 20 years due to the Israelites doing evil in the sight of the LORD. Because of this they began to cry out to the LORD for HIS help.
Judges 4:6-7
6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”
GOD used Deborah to set in motion HIS deliverance of HIS people once again.
Judges 4:8
8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
Barak may have had a trust issue of this command of GOD coming from Deborah the prophetess. He is either questioning Deborah’s authority unto GOD or GOD’s direct command for he says he will only go if Deborah accompanies him.
Judges 4:9-10
9 “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 There Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.
Deborah’s response shows her commitment in trusting GOD, her faith in HIS promised victory, and her courage to go with Israel’s army. She has dedicated herself up to this point to lead Israel and stand for it’s welfare overall. Her confidence in GOD as ultimate Commander of Israel’s army persuades her to go without reservation. She chose to help in any way possible to support and aid in bringing about the desired outcome that benefitted Israel’s future status. However, by going, Barak would forfeit getting the honor.
We can choose to trust GOD to fight our battles bringing us victory as we choose to walk in faith that pleases HIM and display the courage that HE is with us wherever we go...
Sisera gets word that Barak and his army have gone up to Mount Tabor, so he calls for his men and 900 chariots to meet at the Kishon River.
Judges 4:14-15
14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him. 15 At Barak’s advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.
No matter whether a man or a woman encourages us to follow GOD's command, we should obey out of reverence to HIM and HE will bring about a victory in our lives...
Judges 4:16-22
16 Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim, and all Sisera’s troops fell by the sword; not a man was left. 17 Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite.
18 Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.
19 “I’m thirsty,” he said. “Please give me some water.” She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up.
20 “Stand in the doorway of the tent,” he told her. “If someone comes by and asks you, ‘Is anyone in there?’ say ‘No.’”
21 But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.
22 Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. “Come,” she said, “I will show you the man you’re looking for.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple—dead.
Deborah’s prophecy about Sisera being handed over to a woman came true. Sisera’s oppression of the Israelites for 20 years ended.
Judges 4:23
23 On that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites. 24 And the hand of the Israelites pressed harder and harder against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him.
The heroic actions of Deborah, Barak, the Israelite army, and Jael brought about 40 years of peace and protection in the land.
Judges 5
The Song of Deborah
5 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2 “When the princes in Israel take the lead,
when the people willingly offer themselves—
praise the Lord!3 “Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers!
I, even I, will sing to the Lord;
I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song.4 “When you, Lord, went out from Seir,
when you marched from the land of Edom,
the earth shook, the heavens poured,
the clouds poured down water.
5 The mountains quaked before the Lord, the One of Sinai,
before the Lord, the God of Israel.6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,
in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned;
travelers took to winding paths.
7 Villagers in Israel would not fight;
they held back until I, Deborah, arose,
until I arose, a mother in Israel.
8 God chose new leaders
when war came to the city gates,
but not a shield or spear was seen
among forty thousand in Israel.
9 My heart is with Israel’s princes,
with the willing volunteers among the people.
Praise the Lord!10 “You who ride on white donkeys,
sitting on your saddle blankets,
and you who walk along the road,
consider 11 the voice of the singers at the watering places.
They recite the victories of the Lord,
the victories of his villagers in Israel.“Then the people of the Lord
went down to the city gates.
12 ‘Wake up, wake up, Deborah!
Wake up, wake up, break out in song!
Arise, Barak!
Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam.’13 “The remnant of the nobles came down;
the people of the Lord came down to me against the mighty.
14 Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek;
Benjamin was with the people who followed you.
From Makir captains came down,
from Zebulun those who bear a commander’s staff.
15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah;
yes, Issachar was with Barak,
sent under his command into the valley.
In the districts of Reuben
there was much searching of heart.
16 Why did you stay among the sheep pens
to hear the whistling for the flocks?
In the districts of Reuben
there was much searching of heart.
17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan.
And Dan, why did he linger by the ships?
Asher remained on the coast
and stayed in his coves.
18 The people of Zebulun risked their very lives;
so did Naphtali on the terraced fields.19 “Kings came, they fought,
the kings of Canaan fought.
At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo,
they took no plunder of silver.
20 From the heavens the stars fought,
from their courses they fought against Sisera.
21 The river Kishon swept them away,
the age-old river, the river Kishon.
March on, my soul; be strong!
22 Then thundered the horses’ hooves—
galloping, galloping go his mighty steeds.
23 ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord.
‘Curse its people bitterly,
because they did not come to help the Lord,
to help the Lord against the mighty.’24 “Most blessed of women be Jael,
the wife of Heber the Kenite,
most blessed of tent-dwelling women.
25 He asked for water, and she gave him milk;
in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk.
26 Her hand reached for the tent peg,
her right hand for the workman’s hammer.
She struck Sisera, she crushed his head,
she shattered and pierced his temple.
27 At her feet he sank,
he fell; there he lay.
At her feet he sank, he fell;
where he sank, there he fell—dead.28 “Through the window peered Sisera’s mother;
behind the lattice she cried out,
‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why is the clatter of his chariots delayed?’
29 The wisest of her ladies answer her;
indeed, she keeps saying to herself,
30 ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoils:
a woman or two for each man,
colorful garments as plunder for Sisera,
colorful garments embroidered,
highly embroidered garments for my neck—
all this as plunder?’31 “So may all your enemies perish, Lord!
But may all who love you be like the sun
when it rises in its strength.”Then the land had peace forty years.
It is good when leaders promoting and fighting to advance GOD's Kingdom lead and Believers willingly offer themselves to serve HIM in the church... Singing to the LORD is a way of fighting against our enemies through worship and song. We are called to "wake up" and serve doing our part in the Body of Christ...
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